Winter is here and it's cold and quiet outside! As hard as it is..it's time to slow...way down.

In today's busy world, that's easier said than done! Sometimes I feel like a broken record but I know how hard it is to push the pause button.

In kicking-off 2019, I was inspired by a poem that sparked reflection and got me thinking about the year ahead...what's important and what matters. It reminded me that it's not by accident but by design, that we live a meaningful life. It's not about having all the answers but, in asking the rightquestions.

It's in the asking that our QUEST begins!

WHAT WILL MATTER? Ready of not, some day it will come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on in the end.It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought but what you built,not what you got but what you gave. What will matter is not your success but your significance.What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. What will matter is not your memories but the memories of those who loved you.What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.

Thank you Michael Josephson for this beautiful poem!

I hope it ignites your QUEST to make this a meaningful and memorable year!

I'm choosing the word ZEST as my theme for 2019. I want to live with more gusto and focus on what excites me.

We've all heard the phrase that we must L❤️VE ourselves before we can truly love another. But have you ever wondered what the heck does loving yourself truly mean and what does that look like?

A friend sent me something on the eve of my most recent birthday. It answered that question and painted a picture of the life I wish for and hope to be living.

Charlie Chaplin wrote this poem on his 70th birthday. When I first read these words, I felt my heart leap open and my spirit soar. It inspired me tremendously and I just had to share this profound declaration with you. I know it will ring true for many of you who also feel you have grown with age.

When I started loving myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at exactly the right moment. So I could be calm.Today I call it "TRUST."

As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know this is "AUTHENTICITY."

As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody as I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it,and even though this person was me.Today I call it "LETTING GO."

As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow.Today I call it "MATURITY."

As I began to love myself I quit steeling my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, Things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm. Today I call it "SIMPLICITY."

As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is not good for my health- food, people, things, situations, and everything that drew me down and away from myself.At first I called this attitude a "healthy egotism", Today I know it is "LOVE OF ONESELF."

As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I've been wrong less of the time. Today I've discovered this is "MODESTY"

As I began to love myselfI refused to go on living in the past and worry about my future.Now, I only live for the moment where EVERYTHING is happening.Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it "FULFILLMENT."

As I began to love myself I recognized, that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick.But as I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally.Today I call this connection "WISDOM OF THE HEART."

We no longer need to fear arguments,Confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves and others.Even stars collide and out of their crashing new worlds are born. Today I know: THAT IS "LIFE!"(Charlie Chaplin, April 16, 1959)

Wishing you the courage to trust life, be good to yourself, live with compassion & LOVE YOURSELF!

I don't know about you but some times life can feel really hard. We may not understand why or what's needed but I'm learning more and more how important it is that we honor and give ourselves the time and space necessary to heal and truly live a life in balance.

I'm learning that our bodies are like finely tuned instruments and ALL instruments need great CARE in order to PLAY beautiful music.

Have you ever thought of your body as a finely tuned instrument?

It's taken me awhile to admit, but I recognize I'm like a violin.

Violins are very sensitive and need lots of care.

They have great curves.

They're sensitive to temperature and humidity.

Their strings can break easily.

They can be temperamental and need to be finely tuned.

But when tuned properly, they produce some of the most beautiful and magical music on Earth!

That's exactly how I feel! When I recognized my connection and similarities to a violin, it was easier to grant myself permission to up the ante with extreme and exquisite self care.

Roger is more like a kettle drum. Earthy, soulful, grounded and strong. You can beat on a kettle drum all day long. They're hardy and pretty easy to take care of.

Maybe you're like a clarinet or flute? Or perhaps if you're like a piano....are you playing all 88 keys or stuck in a rut playing the same old tune with just three keys...Do-Ray-Me?!?

Bottom line, our bodies are a gift and require attention. We gotta take care of them like a finely tuned instrument. If we wanna express our unique music, share our beauty and have fun then we must invest the time and attention required so that we can play full out. No holding back. One of my all time favorite quotes from Wayne Dyer... DON'T DIE WITH YOUR MUSIC STILL INSIDE YOU!

I've been in recovery mode after a very busy summer and feeling re-energized and "tuned up." My Soulbattical included an R&R trip to San Diego and a short trip to Florida to celebrate my MOM's 85th birthday at the Happiest Place on Earth!

I may not look or sound like a real violin but my heart and soul are singing once again!

Someone recently pointed out to me how overwhelming and confusing it can be sorting through all the conflicting information pertaining to bettering ourselves and living a healthy lifestyle. ​Isn't THAT the truth.....There is a ridiculous amount of information out there!!

And it's so darn easy to go overboard and get lost researching, investigating and comparing information.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD and the next stop is usually overwhelm, indecisiveness or my often two favorites = perfectionism and procrastination.

What I know for sure is that information alone does NOT lead to transformation!

But wait a minute! Everywhere we turn, who and what should we listen to and trust? How do we sort through, navigate and find our way?

Let me introduce you to the three phases/approaches to MINDSET pertaining to information. Wherever you recognize yourself, know you always have a choice to jump ship.

When we have a CHILD mindset, we do what we're told and follow the rules.

We look to others and outside ourselves.

There's often a lot of SHOULD's with this.

You should do this and don't do that.

You oughta do this and never do that.

It's often rigid, not sustainable and leads to the flip side of the coin.

With the TEENAGE mindset, we rebel.

We reject the rules and all the should's. We throw up our hands and say "enough already, screw this!"

We do the exact opposite in rebellion. It's the flip side of the child mindset coin.

With an ADULT MATURE mindset, we're led by our inner wisdom.

Instead of playing by or rejecting the rules of others, we ask questions, look deeper to discover and make our own rules. We're led by our WISE self.

That's the place where positive change comes from.

Looking back, it's been tons of experimentation and trial by error to discover what works best for me. I've read hundreds of books and taken a crazy amount of classes and workshops over the last few decades in pursuit of living a healthy happy life. Led by curiosity and partially because I was a rebel looking for a different way of living, I've experimented with just about everything out there and tried more things than you can imagine in the HEALTH & WELLNESS arena.

I've jumped around all these mindsets but the positive changes that have stuck were discovered when listening to my wise self. (Often one whisper at a time)

I know without a doubt...It's much harder to navigate in present times and not drown in a sea of information.Information doesn't lead to taking action. We need inspiration. We need motivation. We need to take it slow. We need support and accountability. We need to ask and know WHY we want what we want! We need to enJOY the journey!

Take a break from looking outside for all the answers. Go INSIDE and listen to your WISE self!

]]>Wed, 25 Jul 2018 01:28:50 GMThttp://www.therapeutictouchnj.com/blog/savor-enjoy-summerHands down 🤗 summer is my busiest time of year and I love almost every thing about it....

It's my biggest challenge to keep all the balls in the air at work plus take care of myself, relax, and have fun too!

WORK/LIFE BALANCE is a big challenge for many of us. Creating some sense of balance is hard enough. Then to maintain it is a constant juggling act.

But as long as we remember that it's an inside job, we can keep bringing ourselves back to center and course correct. The trick is catching ourselves.

I asked someone this morning in conversation, "how's your summer?" "It's almost over" was her reply. I had to point out that technically there's still six more weeks til Labor Day plus most of September that summer still shines upon us.

Hey, what's the rush? Whatever happened to those laaazy days of summer?

It takes more and more of a conscious effort to stay present and not get pulled into the constant rush of busy-ness that is so prevalent.

Here's a reminder from John Lubbock that I'm taking with me...

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day, listening to the murmur of water or watching the clouds float across the sky is hardly a waste of time."

Anyone else in favor of more leisure time and play where we lose all sense of time back into our lives? Who wants to join me...we can do this!

Let's be present, savor & EnJOY summertime! ﻿💜Patti ]]>Wed, 20 Jun 2018 12:13:00 GMThttp://www.therapeutictouchnj.com/blog/top-5-ways-the-massage-field-has-changed-in-29-yearsToday marks 29 years since I gave birth to THERAPEUTIC TOUCH and founded my business in Bay Head. WOW the world sure has changed in many ways since 1989! In taking time to pause and reflect, I came up with THE TOP 5 WAYS THE MASSAGE INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED IN 29 Years....

1. CALLING vs. CAREER Back in the day when Massage wasn't quite accepted and popular, it was a big deal to meet another body worker or massage therapist. There weren't many of us and we formed our own little tribe of passionate pioneers who had a calling to share the healing power of TOUCH.

We traveled the country and around the world seeking out masters and gurus to teach us, obsessed with learning everything it takes to become a GREAT therapist. Back then, it was a calling that turned into a career and livelihood. Over time, we grew into becoming healers.

More often today, people are entering the field seeing it as a career and sometimes just a job. When approaching the work as a technician, there is a lack of the qualities that come from a deeper calling to learn more and serve better. We can FEEL it...it's immensely different to be touched/massaged by someone just going through the motions-doing a routine and someone who truly has their heart and soul in it.

2. Customized vs. CommercializationIt's wonderful that massage has gone mainstream and lots more people have discovered the healing powers of touch. It's downright amazing how Massage franchises have popped up everywhere in the last decade or so BUT at what cost...It used to be that massage businesses were privately owned, solo individuals and boutique establishments with hands-on owners who knew and understood what it takes to create a truly healing experience. That's changing...

With the globalization of franchises, it's become big business and with that de-personalized.Sadly, it's losing some of its heartfelt touch and much of the essence of healing. Massaging people cannot be seen or approached as an assembly line process. It doesn't work that way. It's like comparing fast food and fine dining. I'll always treat my business as if we're a fine dining experience by paying attention to the very small details and offering a quality and personalized experience!

3. 30/60/90 vs. 25/50/80 It used to be that a one hour massage was 60 minutes. A 1/2 hour massage was 30 minutes and an hour and half was 90 minutes. It makes no sense to me that now more than ever with stress levels being off the charts higher to shorten the time on the table. One thing I will never stand for is lessening the time on the table for the sole business purpose of squeezing more treatments into a day to increase profits. I don't believe in therapists having to rush through a full body massage in 50 minutes with only 10 minutes between clients. Call me old-fashioned but I like a full hour on the table and don't want to feel rushed whether I'm on the giving or receiving end. Why can't we SLOW DOWN and not rush our massage time PLEASE!

4. It's Harder to Find Good Massage Therapists There's lots more massage therapists out there today but it's not easy finding really great therapists. We've been lucky over the years and have an extraordinary team of caring and talented heart-centered therapists. It's not easy finding the "right" person who shines with positivity and fits in with our holistically minded culture. Lucky for us, many of our therapists have stayed on for up to 20 years and longer. Hard to believe with summer right around the corner and only a couple weeks before our busy season, I'm still looking for one more massage therapist. If anyone you know comes to mind, don't be afraid to send them my way. I promise they'll be in really good hands! 💜(wink wink)

5. LUXURY vs. NECESSITY More and more people are recognizing the benefits of regular massage therapy. Even though massage has been used throughout the ages for health and healing, only recently has evidence based research help to open the doors taking Massage Therapy mainstream. It's finally time to dispense with any notion of massage as only a luxury, feel good splurge with no real health benefits. On the contrary, massage is true hands-on-healing. Scientific studies indicate that massage lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system, lowers our cortisol/stress hormones and raises our levels of health boosting hormones: serotonin and dopamine. So yes, while massage feels like a luxury, it is also darned good medicine!😊

Shout out to ALL the massage therapists and allied health professionals around the globe working hard to create TRUE HEALTH CARE and are committed to the EXPERIENCE vs. the PROFIT.

I'm grateful for all the teachers, mentors, healers and gurus that are helping to change the world. Thank you for answering the CALL. We sure have come a long way but we still have a long way to go! ❤️💜💙💚💛

TOUCH is a powerful tool for healing. With intention, touch becomes a vehicle to create higher states of well being and a catalyst for personal growth and transformation.

I founded Therapeutic Touch on these principles in June of 1989. With a pledge and commitment to share this extraordinary discovery with the world, the journey as a passionate holistic entrepreneur began.

The path wasn't always clear but sometimes we just know when things are right.

I knew it was time to get out of my head and into my heart. Help others. Make a difference. Live inspired.

29 years later is a good time for contemplation...🎂

Birthdays and anniversaries are a wonderful time to reevaluate and celebrate. And we get a free pass to be sappy and sentimental too.

How have I grown? What have I learned? Here are some of the important lessons and takeaways....(in no particular order)

1. Have the courage to be real...Live authentically!

2. There's a greater force at work in our lives. Pay attention....Watch for the signs. Listen for the whispers.

3. Doors will open. Doors will close. Allow life to unfold & Trust the Universe.

24. Live a life of SERVICE. Ask, how can I HELP? Focus on GIVING, not getting!

25. Don't panic- tests are for personal growth.

26. It takes a great TEAM of heart-centered therapists and like-minded, caring individuals to create HEAVEN on EARTH! 🤗

27. Have courage and don't be afraid to DREAM BIG!

28. What we appreciate, appreciates! Practice GRATITUDE...Everyday Be GRATEFUL

29. LOVE Is the GLUE that holds us together! Love love love!! ❤️❤️❤️

By the way, did you know that it takes the planet Saturn 29.4 years to orbit the Sun once? Its hard to believe that Saturn has circled the sun only once while I've been busy living this fulfilling and adventurous life. 💫

I THANK my lucky stars, the DIVINE powers ruling this Universe and each and every person that I've met along this journey thus far.

"Saturn doesn't ask you to give up your dreams, only to make them real" (thank you Steven Forest for this GREAT quote)

Feeling grateful and lucky...blessed to be living my dream life.

Thank you for your support and being part of the Therapeutic Touch Adventure! ​

I spent a weekend in the beautiful countryside and rolling hills of Northwest Jersey. It was extra special because I was there for an event hosted by my younger brother Todd who lives in San Diego. It's fun to see people we care about doing what they love and changing the world. Todd found his niche and is a coach/personal trainer to many of the most talented and accomplished athletes in the world and is a motivational speaker and leader in the fitness industry.

GET YOUR MIND RIGHT is his favorite slogan and motto.

I've heard this phrase more times than I can count but last weekend I heard it in a whole new way.

When I heard it this time, I had an epiphany....A moment of clarity. Insight. Inspiration!

Still not exactly sure how it happened but it seemed to come in a flash.

After our two hour morning motivational and inspirational talk, we came together for a one hour fitness workout culminating with a BIG challenge. PRIZES and all.

Then I heard WALL SQUATS....

Have you ever done a wall squat? Back flat up against the wall with knees bent at a 90 degree angle so it looks like you're sitting in a chair.

My mind went right to..."OMG those are hard. OUCH this is gonna hurt. I'm not good at those. Ok, maybe I can do this for a minute or two at the most."

In a room of over 100 people, (mostly fitness pros), I wasn't expecting too much from myself initially. The energy in the room was crazy off-the-hook as the challenge started and Todd was coaching us over a microphone to GET OUR MIND RIGHT!

I remembered to BREATHE INTO the pain and not fight it-something my sister Pam, a Labor/Delivery Nurse and Lamaze teacher taught me over 30 years ago. I rubbed my trembling thighs as sweat was pouring off me.

I didn't give up several times when I wanted to. I hung in there for 17 minutes. Hard to believe but it's true. Wall Squats for 17 minutes. I DID IT!

I didn't win the challenge. There were 7 people (beasts!) who hung in there and they called the challenge after 45 minutes. Seven people won. They wouldn't give up but it had to end so we could have lunch. Crazy right?!

My big takeaway....Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right!

We have two voices- one on each shoulder. LISTEN MORE to the WHISPERS from your SPIRIT than the SHOUTS from your EGO!

It's our choice which we listen to...

It's not easy in this crazy loud world to get still and hear the whispers but give it a try if you want to discover what's truly possible!

To all my Therapeutic Touch clients, co-workers, family and friends...many of whom are going through very challenging times. Get support. Dig deep. Do what it takes. Stay positive. Don't give up. GET YOUR MIND RIGHT. We are here for YOU!

When it comes to happiness and our outlook on life, it is the WAY we are SEEING the world, and NOT THE WORLD that determines our viewpoint. Every day, it's an inside job. It's our perception that creates our reality. I can't tell you how many times I remind myself of this truth...

"It's our ATTITUDE that determines our ALTITUDE!"

It's so important that I'm sharing with you PAGE ONE of our Therapeutic Touch Staff Manual....

ATTITUDE by Charles Swindell "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our ATTITUDES."

We have lots of reminders pertaining to this message on our walls at Therapeutic Touch. Reminding all of us, over and over, that when we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. (Thank you Wayne Dyer for teaching us this!)

At Therapeutic Touch, we're here everyday to help elevate, inspire, and remind you of what you already know...

Happiness truly is an inside job! Just a friendly reminder because most of us get so darn busy that we forget. And that goes for ME TOO! Hope to see you soon at Therapeutic Touch for an "attitude adjustment" which is always intended and included in every visit!

​Every now and then, we hear something that sparks our attention and gets us really thinking.

Recently I was in an audience hearing Elizabeth Gilbert- best selling author of Eat, Pray, Love.

She said something that stuck.

Of course, we all know there's a limited number of hours in each day. We think and say we have our priorities strait but too often we're pretending. We make excuses why our lives don't look or feel like we say we want them to.We blame it on all the distractions and endless things competing for our attention.

We wake up in the morning and fill up our days with God knows what. All the while, leaving what we say is REALLY important for another day. We think and say there's not enough time. Something came up. We're too busy. (Blah, blah, blah...)

We think saying NO to all the things we don't want to do is the answer. But here's the thing....sometimes we have to say NO to some of the things we want to do too. Liz asked us...how much time do you spend on Facebook, surfing the internet, scrolling social media, watching TV?

Wow that got my attention!

If I'm completely honest, I know there's mornings that I don't get to the gym, meditate or get things done that I plan to because I get distracted. Often by plugging into technology. Have you ever gotten sidetracked like this?Getting caught up in the mundane and lost track of time? My BIG takeaway has been coming back to owning my priorities AND not making excuses!

If I know my priorities are my health and wellbeing, my family and friends- then that's where I'm putting my time and planting my attention.